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What Will Black Boxes Reveal for Flight 8051; Flu Hits Early in U.S.; Interview with Widow of Roger Ebert.

Aired December 31, 2014 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LES ABEND, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Cockpit voice recorder, the CVR, records not only communication between air traffic control and the pilots, it is also communication internally in the airplane and it records noise. If a switch was utilized, you would determine what that switch was just by perhaps the sound of it.

ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: Interesting. Even more than the voices.

ABEND: Exactly. Exactly. At the same token, it's unfortunate but a lot of times they will utilize somebody that recognizes both pilots to listen to cockpit voice recorder to determine what pilot is saying what. It's the gruesome experience because you know the end of the story. It's not a pleasant experience. We just listened to Randi Kaye's report with reference to some of the remarks at the end.

But that being said, all of those are crunched into a program that can be done in real time. The real-time program can show what the airplane was doing at any particular point in time both from the outside view from the cockpit view and instrumentation and it can work in conjunction and you can have a split screen and you can more or less reconstruct the entire flight. You will be able to do it here especially with the cockpit voice recorder because as we know, it's a two-hour recording.

CABRERA: These devices are so small, to think that they can withstand the impact of perhaps thousands of feet falling. How durable are they given they are the size of a cell phone?

ABEND: There's a G limit but most of them withstand a tremendous of Gs. In addition to as we know, water immersion. As part of that process to get that data from the water immersion, they maintain saltwater. And it's been said in previous programs today, the pressure is maintained, if it's been found in a lot of pressure under the water.

CABRERA: If it's been found. How confident are you in this case that we'll find those black boxes, given that it is such tumultuous weather there?

ABEND: We'll have to give that time so that our recovery people are not in danger. When we get to the point where we confirm that the airplane is actually found, I think it will be a fairly short process before they find the black boxes. They're usually located in the tail of the plane, and that's usually the safest point of the airplane and it takes the most damage. CABRERA: This segment emphasized how important these black boxes are

to putting pieces together. At the same time, sometimes they are never found. Are there improvements that can come along for these devices?

ABEND: It was discussed while we were in the midst of Malaysia 370 reporting that the military has a way to deploy these if they impact with water or with the ground.

(CROSSTALK)

ABEND: That's been considered. How practical for commercial aviation, I can't say. There's probably a cost factor in it. Remember, this is after-the-fact technology. Are we helping prevent the same type of occurrence again? Are we spending more money for something that may not happen just by virtue of the investigation itself? And what can be revealed from that? It's a balance that you have to put together to determine whether that's something we really need.

CABRERA: You look at the cost to search for these missing planes.

ABEND: Absolutely. Absolutely.

CABRERA: Millions if not billions of dollars when you look at MH-370.

ABEND: But cost of future lives, not knowing that they are not safe getting into a plane, because this event was caused by various factors, I think that is a hidden cost, that, you know, how do you put a price on a human life is the bottom line?

CABRERA: Exactly.

Les Abend, thank you so much.

Up next, I'll speak live with someone who lost his father in a plane crash. He has a unique perspective about surviving the first few days as a loved one, and why finding a suitcase, for example, or knowing where a relative was sitting on the plane is important to some of these relatives but perhaps not others.

We're back in 90 seconds.

(CROSSTALK)

CABRERA: A quick reminder, if you are at home counting down the New Year, tonight is the night. Don't forget to catch Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin live in Times Square tonight. We'll look back at the best of 2014. We're counting down the top-10 moments in every walk of life. That's next hour.

And we're back in 60 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: In the aftermath of an airliner crash, they are the priority for the airline and for investigators. I'm talking about the families of those killed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA ENDANG WIRASMI, LOST FAMILY MEMBERS ON FLIGHT 8501 (through translation): When they explain that not only did they find debris but also found bodies floating in the water, everyone became hysterical especially the mothers. One mother even blacked out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Cameras captured some of the loved ones at what is likely the worst point in their lives, the moments they learn debris had been found. Now, AirAsia CEO tweeted this quote, "The reality of seeing the evacuees and some of my aircraft parts are soul destroying."

A similar reality played out in 1999, when the father and stepmother of my next guest were killed. Richard Brokaw and Jennifer Chaplin (ph) were onboard Egypt Air flight 990, and this crashed into the Atlantic killing all 217 people onboard, including 129 Americans.

The couple's son, Jim Brokaw, is joining me on the phone from Maine.

Jim, first, my condolences. I know it's been 15 years since your dad and stepmother were killed in that Egypt Air crash.

JIM BROKAW, PARENTS KILLED IN EGYPT AIR CRASH (voice-over): Well, thank you, Ana.

CABRERA: How has the AirAsia crash impacted you?

BROKAW: Yeah. I have unfortunately full knowledge of what many of these people are going through. What everyone affected by this crash is going through. There is literally an unspeakable experience. There simply are no words. The fact that bodies have been found as traumatic as that is, will in the long run be a good thing because what's most difficult -- our crash occurred 60 miles off Nantucket and it was many months before any fragments or possessions of my father and stepmother were recovered. It's helpful to have something to bury. That's what enables you to move on.

I think right now there's a more urgent aspect to this situation for passenger families and that has to do with the treaty that governs this particular crash. Indonesia AirAsia, who was the operator of the airplane, and Indonesia is not a signatory to the Montreal Convention, which is deeply unfortunate because the Montreal Convention stipulates roughly $170,000 per passenger strictly liable, which, in many cases, is paid almost immediately because economic consequences are immediate. Groceries have to be bought. Rent has to be paid. Tuition has to be paid. Those expenses don't stop simply because a person is in mourning. So it's up to the Indonesian government to bring the insurers of Indonesian AirAsia to the table and, hopefully, persuade them to do the right thing by their families.

CABRERA: There is that emotional impact. But, like you mention, there's this lingering impact in terms of the consequences of losing a loved one. I want to play something. It's a quick piece of sound from Sarah

Bajc, the partner of another individual who was on flight 370 and, as we know, that flight is still missing. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH BAJC, PARTNER OF FLIGHT 370 VICTIM: On the other hand, the world needs to see that. And in order for people to take this seriously and demand changes in aviation industry to provide more protection, we need people to be angry and to see that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: She's referring to seeing the images of these families who are grieving.

Jim, do you agree with her that the world needs to see their pain?

BROKAW: Absolutely, particularly because, in this situation, many passengers on that airplane are not afforded the protections of the Montreal Convention.

CABRERA: You mentioned that.

And help us, you know, be in the shoes, if you can, of some of these family members. We now know seven bodies have been recovered. Take me back to what that identification process was like for your family, since that's where we are.

BROKAW: One thing to be aware of is each crash is different. In our case, the airplane hit the water traveling close to the speed of sound. Everything shattered. And what records could be recovered took many, many months from 60 miles off Nantucket. NTSB and various other recovery organizations really put out a great deal of effort. It took a long, long time. The fact that people are now, so soon after the crash, recovering the evidence, it does seem to me that that's one thing that's going to enable these people who are in this situation to move on because, as I say, you need something to bury.

CABRERA: Jim Brokaw, thank you for sharing that with us.

We're back in a moment.

(CROSSTALK)

CABRERA: Here on the east coast, it's nine hours and 15 minutes from the New Year. It's already New Year's Day on the other side of the world. We want to show you a look at how Sydney and Hong Kong celebrated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(EXPLOSIONS)

(MUSIC)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Those fireworks never get old. This is just a taste of some New Year's Eve's celebrations, which have already taken place. Next up to ring in the New Year is Dubai.

And some people who would like to be out celebrating tonight, unfortunately, may be in bed sick because the United States officially has a flu epidemic on its hands. The latest data from the CDC shows 7 percent of all deaths nationwide were due to pneumonia and influenza for the week ending December 20th. The CDC is calling the flu widespread in 36 states.

Joining us now live from the nation's capital is CNN medical analyst, Dr. Seema Yasmin.

Dr. Yasmin, this year's vaccine apparently is not as effective. Why?

DR. SEEMA YASMIN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: That's right, Ana. The reason for that is it takes about six months to actually make a flu vaccine and that means the very early in the year around February time, scientists are predicting what strains of flu will suffer during the flu season and they don't get that right. This spring around March and April they realize that there will be strains of flu circulating not protected if you bet the vaccine. That's the bad news.

CABRERA: Is it worth getting the flu shot?

YASMIN: It absolutely is, 61 percent effective. We would love it to be 100 percent effective but many of the doctors and public health experts I've spoken to say it's really important to get the flu shot. Most flu vaccines protect against three or four different strains of flu actually so even if it's not a great match against one particular strain, it will still protect you against the other strains that are going around right now.

CABRERA: When we hear the word epidemic, it sounds scary. 15 children have died this flu season. How does this year compare to other years?

YASMIN: That's a really sad statistic. In previous years we see about 35 to 170 kids every year who die from the flu. 2009 was a really bad year. That year we had pandemic flu and about 350 children died in the U.S. from flu. We are trying to prevent those deaths by getting people to get the flu shot and to stay at home when they are feeling sick.

CABRERA: Remind us who is most vulnerable.

YASMIN: The flu really hits those young kids and also older adults. But also it can really hit hard for people who have diabetes, asthma or other breathing problems and obesity. Those folks are really affected and healthcare workers, doctors and nurses that tend to sick people right now are at risk and it's important they get their flu shot. CABRERA: I got to sneak in this last question for you. Mom always

says wear your coat, wear your hat, don't forget your scarf, so you don't want to catch a cold or get sick. Is there any truth to that?

YASMIN: A little bit of truth. It's always good to take your mother's advice. The truth behind it is that during the winter season it's colder but the air is also drier and viruses like that. It may be that they survive for longer because there's less humidity around but the best way to stay healthy is to get the flu shot, stay at home if you feel sick, don't hang around other people, and take mom's advice and bundle up with a good, warm scarf.

CABRERA: Dr. Seema Yasmin, thanks to you and happy New Year.

YASMIN: Thank you. Happy New Year to you.

CABRERA: Up next, back to our special coverage of the search for flight 8501. The airline CEO says the plane still has not been found but crews are finding victims and more debris. I'll speak live with one analyst who says, based on clues so far, there may be a simple theory on what happened on that plane.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: When the Academy Award nominations are revealed in the next film, the late film critic, Roger Ebert, may be on that list, not as a critic, though, as part of a documentary on his life and his legendary partnership with Gene Siskel. CNN Films debuts "Life Itself," Sunday, at 9:00 p.m. eastern.

Our own Brooke Baldwin had a chance to sit down with Ebert's widow, Chaz, and talked about the brash chemistry between Siskel and Ebert.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHAZ EBERT, WIDOW OF ROGER EBERT: It was what you saw is what you got. It was authentic. That's why the show lasted for so many years. They never really sort of pretended. When they would get into arguments, they were real, or when they would get into just debates, they were always trying to convince the other. They were siblings who were battling siblings.

(CROSSTALK)

EBERT: Yeah, absolutely.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: But then, as both of their lives came to an end, you could see the real love for one another.

EBERT: They did develop. Toward the end, they really loved each other. And you could tell that was not a pretense either. In the first six years they were together, they barely spoke to each other. They would go to an elevator and look up and look around and they just didn't have much to say because, back then, newspaper guys, it was "Chicago Sun-Times" and "Chicago Tribune" and they were big competitors. That's what their relationship was like. BALDWIN: Do you think -- because when he fell ill, it was private.

Do you think that's part of the reason he was sort of like here I am. This is what I look like. This is my reality. He made it so public. He shared.

EBERT: Yes. I would say that was part of it. Part of it is they were two very different people. Roger was more open and outgoing and jean was private about things. He was very friendly but Roger was just here I am. It's the personality he had. He was devastated that he didn't know that gene was dying and he said if something like this happens to me, I want you to let our close friends know.

BALDWIN: When you watch the film, you see Roger in some of the first clips sitting there in the hospital. It's incredibly real how he is living. Some of the difficulties. Your difficulties. Why were he and why were you so OK with saying this is how it is?

EBERT: When we started making the movie, we didn't know he was going to pass away during the making of the movie. We expected to be filming for a year. The plan was to film Roger for a whole year, going to film festivals, and giving dinner parties and giving speeches with his synthetic voice. You know, going on trips with our grandchildren and doing everything, going to movies, interviewing people, doing everything. He wanted to get a full complement of Roger's life. But it's a documentary. Life had something else in store that we weren't privy to until the end.

BALDWIN: What about the beginning of you two? You met at Alcoholics Anonymous.

EBERT: We met at a restaurant. He saw me at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

BALDWIN: He saw you.

EBERT: Yes. I was at the restaurant with some friends. He was with Ann Landers, who he knew, and he saw me across the aisle and he said he wanted to meet me but he said he felt a little shy, so he asked Ann --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: He was shy? Knowing him as you knew him later --

(CROSSTALK)

EBERT: Yeah, it's surprising. It's surprising.

(LAUGHTER)

I guess, you know, when the heart is involved, you can act a little differently than you do otherwise. And he asked her, you know, I would like to meet her, would you go over with me and make an introduction? So they came to the table and Ann Landers, whom I adored, introduced us. And she just remained a really good friend until her death. She always said that it was one of the best introductions she ever made because she was at our wedding and we just remained friends.

BALDWIN: Chaz, you speak openly in the film about this chat with your mother. You had once been part of a march with Dr. King. You were thinking this wasn't exactly my plan to marry a white man.

EBERT: The heart knows what the heart knows. I fell in love with Roger. He fell in love with me. I wanted him to be, you know, open and transparent about racial issues because there were some members of his family who didn't -- he was afraid they wouldn't accept me at first. And he would say, well, it's because you're not Catholic.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: You were, like, oh, it might be more than that, Roger.

EBERT: Yeah, right. He eventually owned up to it. We all became one big happy family. And I loved his family and adored his family. And he still has family members who I'm in touch with and we get along very well. It was a good match all around.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: What a cool lady. You can catch the acclaimed new CNN Film about the life of film critic, Roger Ebert, "Life Itself," this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. eastern.